Police: Oak Lawn Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Elderly Dementia Patient

An Oak Lawn man was accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman who was being treated at an Orland Park care facility, according to police.

Robert J. Phelan, 56, of the 9200 block of Mayfield Avenue in Oak Lawn, was charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault.

Orland Park officers were called to Lexington Health Care at 14601 John Humphrey Drive around 4 a.m. Sunday, Orland Park Police Lt. James Bianchi said.

An employee told officers that Phelan was seen “engaged in inappropriate contact” with a 93-year-old female patient who is suffering from dementia, according to police.

The woman later underwent a SANE examination at South Suburban Hospital, which is performed by a sexual abuse expert to determine whether a person was assaulted, Bianchi said.

Based on the employee’s description of events and the SANE examination, Phelan was arrested on Sunday.

“He has no prior history of similar acts that we know of,” Bianchi said. “This was the only time he was reported.”

Administrators at Lexington Health Care were not immediately available for comment.

Phelan appeared at the Fifth Municipal District Courthouse in Bridgeview on Tuesday morning for a hearing, where a judge set bail at $350,000. Phelan is expected back in court Aug. 8.